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    Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings

    Uploaded by

    Krista Reeder
    The document provides a detailed evaluation of the concert band piece 'Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings' by Roland Barrett. It describes the piece's genre, duration, difficulty, instrumentation, compositional techniques, form, and potential themes. The reviewer notes unique elements like an aleatoric section and suggests the piece could evoke medieval times, but may not be worth programming unless students like it.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings

    Uploaded by

    Krista Reeder
    572 views3 pages
    The document provides a detailed evaluation of the concert band piece 'Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings' by Roland Barrett. It describes the piece's genre, duration, difficulty, instrumentation, compositional techniques, form, and potential themes. The reviewer notes unique elements like an aleatoric section and suggests the piece could evoke medieval times, but may not be worth programming unless students like it.

    Original Description:

    Repertoire Review: Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings by Roland Barrett

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    The document provides a detailed evaluation of the concert band piece 'Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings' by Roland Barrett. It describes the piece's genre, duration, difficulty, instrumentation, compositional techniques, form, and potential themes. The reviewer notes unique elements like an aleatoric section and suggests the piece could evoke medieval times, but may not be worth programming unless students like it.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    572 views3 pages

    Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings

    Uploaded by

    Krista Reeder
    The document provides a detailed evaluation of the concert band piece 'Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings' by Roland Barrett. It describes the piece's genre, duration, difficulty, instrumentation, compositional techniques, form, and potential themes. The reviewer notes unique elements like an aleatoric section and suggests the piece could evoke medieval times, but may not be worth programming unless students like it.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3
    At a glance
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    The piece explores medieval sounds and elements through a 20th century lens, featuring contrasts in texture, instrumentation, tempo and style. It also includes an aleatoric section left to chance.

    The piece features frequent changes in tempo, style, key signatures and modalities. It requires versatility from the ensemble to switch between contrasting thin and thick textures and sparsely or fully orchestrated sections.

    The piece explores different keys like D minor, G major, C major and Eb minor. It also experiments with harmonic and textural elements as well as compositional techniques like aleatoric sections.

    Reviewer: Krista M.

    Reeder

    REPERTOIRE EVALUATION FORM

    Title: Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings

    Composer / Arranger: Roland Barrett

    Publisher: Wingert-Jones Publications

    Date of Publication: 1995

    Price: $60 Band Set & Score; $10 Extra Score

    Ensemble Type: Concert Band

    Description/Genre: 20th Century/Contemporary with elements of
    ancient/medieval sounds (modes)

    Duration: 6:00

    Difculty: V. Easy ! Easy ! Mod. ! Diff. ! V. Diff. !

    Score: Full Score ! Reduced Score ! / Transposed ! C-Score !
    Instrumentation:
    Picc ! Fl1 ! Fl2 ! Fl3 ! Alto Fl ! Bass Fl !
    Ob1 ! Ob2 ! EHn ! Bsn1 ! Bsn2 ! CBsn !
    EbCl! Cl1 ! Cl2 ! Cl 3 ! ! Alto Cl ! Bass Cl !
    CAltoCl ! EbCBCl ! BbCBCl ! SSax! ASax1 ! ASax2 !
    TSax ! BarSax ! BassSax !

    Cor1 ! Cor2 ! Cor3 ! Trp1 ! Trp2 ! Trp3 !
    Hn1 ! Hn2 ! Hn3 ! Hn4 ! Flg1 ! Flg2 !
    Tbn1 ! Tbn2 ! Tbn3 ! BTbn ! BarTC ! BarBC !
    Euph1 ! Euph2 ! Tuba1 ! Tuba2 ! StBass !

    Harp ! Celeste! Glock. ! Xylo ! Mar. ! Vibes !
    Piano ! Synth ! Chimes ! Crotales ! Timp ! Bass Dr. !
    Snare ! Toms ! CrCym ! SusCym ! Tam ! Tri. !
    Gong ! Wind Chimes ! Sleigh Bells !

    Unusual Instrumentation/Usage:

    Other Considerations:
    Highest Pitch Trumpet: G5 Highest Pitch Clarinet: Ab5

    Clarinet Crosses Break?: Yes ! No ! N/A !
    3rd Clar cross break 2-3x; could be taken down the
    octave very easily in those few notes/passages

    Other Range Concerns: A highish baritone/trombone part

    Technical Concerns: Frequent tempo and style changes; often abruptly
    Exploration of key signatures and modalities
    Frequent contrasting sections - versatility to switch
    Phrasing

    Articulations/Bowings: Standard
    Off-beat and syncopation

    Meter(s): 4/4 7/8 3/4 Aleatorical section

    Rhythmic Complexities: Besides time signature changes, this piece poses
    little rhythmic challenge - pretty straight-forward

    Key(s): Primarily D minor, but also explores G Major,
    G minor, C Major, Eb minor, F Major, F minor, and
    Db Major

    Harmonic Concerns: Style changes
    Balance
    Accidentals and key/tonal changes
    Style

    Primary Texture(s): Homophonic/Polyphonic
    Thin and thick - often sparsely orchestrated and
    then builds to full ensemble
    Mood/timbre matches instrumentation

    Featured Instrument(s)/Solo(s):Flute solo
    French horn ditty (not a solo but in unison and is
    the primary theme material)


    Compositional Techniques: Aleatoric section
    Although written to be 20th Cent. lit, the elements
    of medieval inspiration are evident

    Form: Intro - C Preview (1 measure)
    A - C Preview 2 (3 measures)
    B - Aleatoric
    C - D - C - E - E - Transition
    C - C - C - B - C - Closing

    Program Notes:
    The most successful of composer Roland Barretts repertoire is Of Dark Lords And Ancient Kings.
    Although it is a 20th Century piece, it can most certainly evoke images of medieval times. What is unique
    about this piece is the aleatoric section - or a section of music left to chance. Not once has this ever been
    played the same, and you undoubtedly wont have to listen hard to experience this unique element tonight.

    Similar Pieces (Title/Composer):
    Celtic Ritual - John Higgins

    Additional Comments:

    What is at the heart of this piece?
    I am not emotionally involved with the piece yet. Im not even sure I have a crush on it. The extent of our
    relationship was on rst impressions only, and Im on the fence yet about where we are headed. Seriously
    though I think conict-resolution, should I stay or should I go those could easily emerge as themes if
    given the right nuance in the rst couple read-throughs. I originally imaged something a little darker or
    sinister but keep feeling let down I dont have a heart Yet.

    I would play this piece with: High School Band

    I would recommend this piece: Yes ! No ! Eh !
    I really liked it the rst time I heard it. but after I ordered it and started evaluating it, I probably
    wouldnt program it unless the kids really liked it.

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